Broncos Equipment Manager Chris Valenti Answers Your Questions - The Orange Mane

PatsWin2002 · 07-01-2005, 07:41 AM

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=4269

Friday, July 1, 2005
Chris Valenti Answers Your Questions
When it’s time for Broncos' players to suit up for games at home or on the road, Chris Valenti is there.

As equipment manager, Valenti and his staff have a wide range of responsibilities. Simply put, they maintain every piece of equipment that is used or worn by players and coaches. That includes everything from making sure players keep jerseys tucked in and socks pulled up to moving and setting up all equipment for home and road games. Valenti also orders all equipment including shoes, helmets, gloves, footballs, etc.

His team is also heavily involved in practice, managing all the gear necessary to keep the team learning and improving at its Dove Valley facility.

Valenti took time this week to answer your questions. Here’s what he had to say:

Adam; Alamosa
First of all, you and your staff do a wonderful job. The team always looks great! I have kind of a curious question. On the average, how many footballs per year must you order? Also, what is the lifespan of a football in the NFL?

Chris Valenti
We order about 720 a year and although we haven’t used that many in one season, it is good to have them on hand. The life span depends a lot on the weather conditions that a ball has to suffer. Assuming a ball isn’t affected at all by moisture, they usually last about 4 weeks under normal game and practice use before they become slippery and the grip wears down.

Brian O'Quinn; Thornton
Do players have any unusual equipment preferences, such as items they consider to be lucky? Do you have to take this into account when you order equipment?

Chris Valenti
I can’t think of any examples of “lucky” pieces of equipment that guys have had in the past. Any extended use of something is the result of a player preferring broken in equipment for comfort purposes more than anything. If they do have an unusual piece of equipment, it is usually something that they have a personal attachment to, such as a t-shirt of their own which doesn’t affect our ordering at all.

Doug Davies; St. Paul, Minn.
Are team members allowed to pick their own brand of cleat and if so, is the team responsible for that expense or the individual?

Chris Valenti
Players are allowed to wear any type of cleat that they would like to. However, only two brands are allowed to show their logos on the field, those being Nike and Reebok. If a player chooses to wear another brand, all logos must be covered. If a player is lucky enough to get a shoe contract from one of the two companies I just mentioned, then there shoes are provided for them as part of the contract. For those players without contracts, the team provides them with the shoes they need to perform.

Ryan Trent; La Habra, Calif.
As a former high school and college football player I use to enjoy looking my best and making sure I have my accessories tight on game day. I love the way Champ goes into battle. Do you have a player that you think to yourself: “Man, that dude looks bad” when he heads into the game? If so, who? And why?

Chris Valenti
That is a tough one. I am obviously biased about how our uniform looks, but I think all of our players look “bad” more because of the player rather than the uniform.

Ray; Grand Haven, Mich.
I remember hearing that the fullback for the Lions goes through about 16 helmets or so a season. What would you say is the average of how many helmets a normal player goes through each season and who breaks the most on the Broncos roster?

Chris Valenti
That is a new one to hear for me. I have heard that the Lions fullback goes through a lot of facemasks, but not helmets. Our players use only one helmet a year and in my eight years I have only seen one broken helmet.

Brian Kelley; Cocoa Beach, Fla.
Will the Broncos be wearing their orange jerseys this year, and if so what are the chances of them wearing the old school helmet with them?

Chris Valenti
Actually, we won’t be wearing our orange jerseys this year, not the current version or the throwback. In years past, the NFL has allowed the four teams playing on Thanksgiving Day to wear the throwback uniforms which include the old school helmet, as we did last time we played in Dallas on Thanksgiving. But they changed their mind this year and all four teams are wearing their current uniforms.

Michael Schwarz; Boynton Beach, Fla.
What is the longest name you have had to have on a player's uniform and how did you get it on the jersey?

Chris Valenti
Since I have been here, the longest last name we have had to put on a jersey is Christopherson. The way we get it to fit is by reducing the font size on the nameplate and making all the letters just a little skinnier.

Deshawn; Baltimore
I heard Tatum Bell is wearing a black visor this year, but I heard it’s a fine too wear any visors unless its clear … Is that true?

Chris Valenti
It is true that a player who has not been cleared to wear a tinted visor will be fined if he wears one with tint. The process to get cleared for a tinted visor is very strict too and very few guys in the entire league actually get approved. As it stands right now, Tatum is still in a clear one too.

Jake Gibbons; Gunnison
In a May Q&A, Pat McPherson said that the modern safety can't be looked off as easily these days because they key on the quarterback's eyes. Is there a rule about covering those eyes with a visor like some of our running backs have worn in the past? Or, does that hinder the quarterbacks vision too much?

Chris Valenti
Any player who chooses to wear a clear visor can do so, but that wouldn’t help the quarterback at all. If a player chooses to wear a tinted visor, they must be approved by the NFL after providing a considerable amount of medical proof that they need one which our head trainer handles with his medical staff. Needless to say, that is why you don’t see too many guys, especially quarterbacks, with a tinted visor.

Dave Holman; Marinette, Wis.
As I played high school sports, some of the guys had suppositious things they did with their uniforms. Do any of the Broncos do these, and if so, who (does it) and what do they do?

Chris Valenti
The superstitions that guys have are more with the routine that they have on game day rather than the equipment they wear. Some guys have to get dressed at the same time, or have help from the same person, or do such small things as get air out in their helmet or get their eye-black put on at the exact right time but that is about the extent of the superstitions that we know about.

T.S. West; Billings, Mont.
Has there been a game situation involving equipment that has caused you a lot of stress, and if so, what was the situation?

Chris Valenti
With every game there is a certain amount of stress that comes with making sure every player and every coach has what they need to get through the game. The spike in stress comes when something gets misplaced when unpacking, or when a piece of equipment breaks during the course of a game. The last thing you want to happen is a guy misses too many plays because they have a broken chinstrap.

Pedro L.H.; Canutillo, Texas
What is the hardest part of preparing the equipment for away games?

Chris Valenti
Actually, since our practice facility isn’t located at our stadium, every game is like an away game for us. We have to pack the same amount of equipment and relocate it either way, and either way the hardest part is making sure nothing gets left behind.

David Teel; Toronto
What do you do with the used equipment? Do you donate it to youth programs in the community?

Chris Valenti
As far as the used gloves and shoes go, we do donate a sizeable amount at the end of every year to local high schools and colleges. Other than that, there isn’t much more to donate. The players get to keep their helmets and they use the same shoulder pads from year to year.

Clint Armstrong; Loveland, Ohio
Do players get brand new jerseys, pants, helmets, socks, etc. for each game or are these items washed, sewn, buffed, etc. to look like new again? If they are always new, what is done with the old uniforms/helmets? Also, does the NFL place equipment budgets on teams or is it up to each owner to spend what he/she wishes on equipment? Thanks!

Chris Valenti
Actually, the players use just one jersey and pair of pants for the entire season. They all have a back up jersey in case the primary one becomes unusable for some reason. We do wash the uniforms and hand scrub the grass stains that are a little difficult every week as well as clean, re-decal and use touch up paint on all the helmets. Our goal is to make everything look new every week even though it isn’t. As far as the budgets go, all teams are provided with a certain amount of goods from a number of different companies that have paid to be licensees. Though that is close to enough to outfit a team, there are things that are needed that aren’t included. If the owner chooses to go above and beyond those amounts, the NFL doesn’t specify how much they can spend. It is entirely up to them to provide as much equipment as they would like for their team.

Chris Prusse; Lone Tree
Mr. Valenti, How frequently are practice jerseys in need of replacement?

Chris Valenti
Since we don’t do a lot of live hitting during practice, our practice jerseys usually last between 2 and 3 years. We replace the individually as needed rather than updating an entire set at a time.

Geronimo Mausehund; Berlin
Which size (jersey) has been the biggest you have ever ordered, and for whom?

Chris Valenti
The biggest jersey that has been ordered that I know if is a size 56 for Chester McGlockton. To put that in perspective, that is 3 sizes bigger than the biggest size jersey for any of the defensive linemen on last year’s roster.

Anthony Merlino; Grand Junction
What soap works the best?

Chris Valenti
If you are referring to laundry soap, we actually use a combination of chemicals provided by a company called Ecolab rather than normal laundry detergent that you can buy at the store. We do, however, use Shout to scrub out the grass stains that don’t come out after the first washing.

Matthew; Wilkinson
What is the most frequent problem players have equipment wise during games?

Chris Valenti
The most frequent problems usually come as the weather gets worse. Sometimes players can’t decide what the best footing is for a particular field, so they experiment with different cleat lengths until they get the right one to keep from slipping. Even though we try to stay on top of the maintenance, sometimes there are problems with chinstrap buckles breaking during a game as well considering the speed of the collisions that our players endure.

Bill; Brighton
What are the most stressful and most enjoyable aspects of your job as equipment manager?

Chris Valenti
The most stressful aspect, in my opinion, would be making sure that guys can play without worrying about any part of their equipment at all. That is the last thing they should have to worry about on game day so we try to make sure everything is in order before they go out on the field. We try to make sure we know as much of a player’s individual needs as possible so when they get to their locker, everything is waiting for them. As far as the enjoyable aspects, there are too many to list. I think that is a result of being part of such a great organization that has been successful for so long. Our players and coaches are great to deal with, so coming in every day to work is easy and fun. Game days are definitely the highlight of every week though. That is what we work for every week, and when you get the chance to see our players compete, it can send chills through you.

Dean Fortik; Spokane, Wash.
Who designed the Broncos uniform back in 1997? It is still the best design in the NFL! Moving away from the traditional design to create something wonderfully unique was a great choice. What kind of process is involved in a major change like that?

Chris Valenti
Actually, I wasn’t here during the design of the new uniform, I started after that was done. I do know that the design process was a team effort between our owner and Nike. Unfortunately I can’t tell you what all was involved, but I know it was a lengthy process.

Alex Kinstner; Chicago
What is the difference between the Revolution helmets and the standard helmet and is there a new design in the making?

Chris Valenti
The biggest difference is in the protection provided on the side of a helmet. Rather than having a standard horseshoe shape jaw pad, the Revolution helmet has what is called a Z-Pad which protects the entire temple and jaw area. As far as a new design in the making, helmet manufacturers are very quiet when they have something new in the making so I’m sure there is work going on to improve head protection, but I can’t tell you what it might be.

Blake; Altoona, Penn.
How did you get into this line of work?

Chris Valenti
I actually did it in college at CU and got into it because my brother was an equipment manager there before me. Being both a fan and someone who played in high school, it was a way to be able to be a part of the game even though I knew I would never play at a level past high school.

Mauro Gonzalez; Hays, Kan.
Last month there was big hype about what number Jerry Rice would wear. I though since he could not have 80, why not 08? Is this possible or is that number generally reserved for quarterbacks?

Chris Valenti
Actually, receivers are only allowed to wear numbers in the teens and eighties according to league rules. The 8 is still considered a single digit even with the 0 in front of it, and those numbers can only be worn by kickers and quarterbacks.

Michael Strunk; Sinking Spring, Penn.
Hi, first off, I am a big time Broncos fan. These game used helmets that I see on Ebay, do you think they are truly game used or not? I see a lot of helmets but not a lot of Broncos. How or what would be the best way to tell a real game use helmet and how do these helmets become available to people? Do any of the Broncos helmets ever become available or do you keep reconditioning the helmet? Please reply, since there are times that Broncos helmet are on Ebay and I sit there and think: “man should I or not?”

Chris Valenti
Actually, I watch eBay very closely for those type of things and inform people when they are trying to sell a fraudulent item, not just helmets, but gloves, shoes, and jerseys as well. I wish there was a way to tell you how to spot a fake, but the details are specific and can change from year to year depending on who they are claiming they have. The helmets are actually given to each of the players at the end of every season so if it is being sold, it would have been obtained from the player himself.

John Vair; Seattle
Hi Chris, Could you discuss what you do during the week before a Bronco away game? How much equipment do you bring for each player and how do you get it to the other team's stadium? Does the NFL impose deadlines or restrictions that you have to meet?

Chris Valenti
Each week is pretty much the same whether it is a home game or an away game. We have to move all of the same equipment either way since we don’t work or practice at the stadium. Once we get back to our facility after a game and get all of the game laundry out of the way, we repack all of our trunks early in the week before practices start again. Throughout the week we try to maintain all of the hardware on the helmets and on Thursdays we re-decal and clean all of the helmets to make sure they look good for the upcoming game. On Fridays we load a truck with all of our extra trunks and hampers that is all back up equipment to have on hand for a game. In all, with the trainers and video departments included, we take about 12,000 pounds of extra equipment. The NFL does not impose deadlines or restrictions when it comes to the amount of equipment brought, but due to space constraints depending on what size airplane we travel with, we try to be as efficient as possible and not take too much.

Nick Haegele; Kalispell, Mont.
How many times do the guys get new equipment or change theirs, and does the team get all new equipment every year?

Chris Valenti
As far as protective equipment goes (helmet and shoulder pads), the players get a new helmet every year but they wear their shoulder pads for as long as they can throughout their career. The players do get new jerseys every year, and the team fills in every year with the equipment that was used to its limits the previous year. Since the styles of outerwear for the coaches changes every year, we do get new shirt and jackets and such every year for them.

Chris Sutphin; Brilliant, Ohio
What is the strangest request from a player that you can recall?

Chris Valenti
It isn’t so much what the request was for, but what the player did with what we provided. When Ed McCaffrey asked for scissors, he had a grand plan with them. Ed would cut any additional material in his uniform that he could find out so that it made his uniform lighter. He went as far as to cut the mesh out of his jersey from behind the numbers and the waistband of his jockstrap in half to reduce the weight.

Joe Wesley; South Jordan, Ala.
How many footballs do you order every week? How many do you order every season?

Chris Valenti
For every home game, we have to supply 24 footballs and the league provides an additional 12 for the kicking game so there are a total of 36 footballs for each game.

Miles; Hilo, Hawaii
I have read about how Ed McCaffrey use to cut all the extra jersey that was not needed and used pads that were very small. How many of the players on the team have requests like this?

Chris Valenti
There has never been a player who has done what Ed McCaffrey used to do. He was definitely in a league of his own when it came to quirky equipment needs.

Andrew Gowins; Cincinnati
Who has the largest shoe size you have had to order and who has the smallest?

Chris Valenti
This year we have a few players that wear size 16’s (Courtney Brown, George Foster, P.J. Alexander) and that is the largest size we have ever issued since I have been here. We do have up to size 19 in the equipment room just in case somebody ever needs them. The smallest size is currently a 10 worn by Domonique Foxworth and Curome Cox, but again we stock all the way down to 8 ½, just in case.

Kurt; Chico, Calif.
Do the players choose which shoes they're going to wear in a game or do you order them all and have generic shoes? Also, which athletic company sponsors you guys?

During the regular season, the majority of our players have contracts with either Nike or Reebok so they wear whatever shoe that they have a contract with. We have to be cognizant of that too so the remainder of the shoes we fall in line with what the players need. They can select from whatever styles those companies provide so that they have the traction they need depending on the playing surface and the weather conditions. As far as the team goes, Reebok is the official uniform and clothing supplier for the entire league as well as footwear for the staff.

PatsWin2002 · 07-01-2005, 07:47 AM

This one ought to bum out a few people:

Quote:

Chris Valenti
Actually, we won’t be wearing our orange jerseys this year, not the current version or the throwback. In years past, the NFL has allowed the four teams playing on Thanksgiving Day to wear the throwback uniforms which include the old school helmet, as we did last time we played in Dallas on Thanksgiving. But they changed their mind this year and all four teams are wearing their current uniforms.

scorpio · 07-01-2005, 08:01 AM

Oh gee, the equipment manager. Who are they going to interview next, the water boy?

PatsWin2002 · 07-01-2005, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpiosnow

Oh gee, the equipment manager. Who are they going to interview next, the water boy?

That was my first thought too ...then I read it.....and there is interesting stuff in there....like the Nike/Reebok logos are the only ones that can show on cleats - all others have to be covered.

Billy Clyde Puckett · 07-01-2005, 08:28 AM

No one asked what the largest jock size was.

Jason in LA · 07-01-2005, 08:51 AM

First it was the gardner, now this guy. I know it's the offseason, but things can't be that slow that the Broncos own website is giving us this crap. I read half way through the interview with the gardner before I realized I had much better things to do. I didn't even read one answer from this guy.

How about an interview with C Brown? I want to know what his status is. I'd also like to hear from Pryce to see where he's at.

Traveler · 07-01-2005, 08:57 AM

Mini-camp & Training-camp can't get here fast enough!

RukdaFaidas · 07-01-2005, 09:04 AM

I have a couple questions:

Do you order Crisco by the case or individually?

What kind of bonus can an equipment manager make by "accidentally" taking home jerseys on the road?

ludo21 · 07-01-2005, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RukdaFaidas

I have a couple questions:

Do you order Crisco by the case or individually?

What kind of bonus can an equipment manager make by "accidentally" taking home jerseys on the road?

, and did u see this one kids question, what kind of suppositions do players have?? The Broncos pick this kids Q even tho he cant spell!! And some other guy says, who looks 'bad' on the team

BigPlayShay · 07-01-2005, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

Brian Kelley; Cocoa Beach, Fla.
Will the Broncos be wearing their orange jerseys this year, and if so what are the chances of them wearing the old school helmet with them?

Chris Valenti
Actually, we won’t be wearing our orange jerseys this year, not the current version or the throwback. In years past, the NFL has allowed the four teams playing on Thanksgiving Day to wear the throwback uniforms which include the old school helmet, as we did last time we played in Dallas on Thanksgiving. But they changed their mind this year and all four teams are wearing their current uniforms.

Damn, no throwback uniforms or orange jersey's this year. That kind of sucks.

Kaylore · 07-01-2005, 12:06 PM

Wel...they answered my question. Of course it was for the equipment manager, but I imagine so few wrote in they were able to get to all of them.

Rohirrim · 07-01-2005, 12:09 PM

You can always tell when you've reached the lowest point in the offseason: They interview the equipment guy.

SoCalBronco · 07-01-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Guy

No one asked what the largest jock size was.

Actually, there was a question submitted about it, but they didnt choose to answer it.

See below

Isn't it true that Ben Roethlisburger has a bigger jock size than anyone on the Broncos?
Thanks
Waffle Boy, Blacksburg, VA.

DBroncos4life · 07-01-2005, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Actually, there was a question submitted about it, but they didnt choose to answer it.

See below

Isn't it true that Ben Roethlisburger has a bigger jock size than anyone on the Broncos?
Thanks
Waffle Boy, Blacksburg, VA.

Oh thats a knee slapper!!!

Rohirrim · 07-01-2005, 12:27 PM

Only the Waffle would have any interest in those dimensions.

PatsWin2002 · 07-01-2005, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

You can always tell when you've reached the lowest point in the offseason: They interview the equipment guy.

You sure??

Next week: Bob's Your Information Minister Answers Your Questions

SoCalBronco · 07-01-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

You sure??

Next week: Bob's Your Information Minister Answers Your Questions

Rep.

Billy Clyde Puckett · 07-01-2005, 12:44 PM

I can tell it is Friday before a holiday weekend. Everyone is in a good mood joking around.

Let's all have a toast to the Mane this weekend.

Hogan11 · 07-01-2005, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

Chris Valenti
Actually, we won’t be wearing our orange jerseys this year, not the current version or the throwback. In years past, the NFL has allowed the four teams playing on Thanksgiving Day to wear the throwback uniforms which include the old school helmet, as we did last time we played in Dallas on Thanksgiving. But they changed their mind this year and all four teams are wearing their current uniforms.

Well that sucks......I figured we'd get screwed out of seeing those uniforms again someway, somehow....just had that feelin'.

07-01-2005, 07:41 AM	#1
PatsWin2002 Giggity Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: South of Boston Posts: 6,270	Broncos Equipment Manager Chris Valenti Answers Your Questions http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=4269 Friday, July 1, 2005 Chris Valenti Answers Your Questions When it’s time for Broncos' players to suit up for games at home or on the road, Chris Valenti is there. As equipment manager, Valenti and his staff have a wide range of responsibilities. Simply put, they maintain every piece of equipment that is used or worn by players and coaches. That includes everything from making sure players keep jerseys tucked in and socks pulled up to moving and setting up all equipment for home and road games. Valenti also orders all equipment including shoes, helmets, gloves, footballs, etc. His team is also heavily involved in practice, managing all the gear necessary to keep the team learning and improving at its Dove Valley facility. Valenti took time this week to answer your questions. Here’s what he had to say: Adam; Alamosa First of all, you and your staff do a wonderful job. The team always looks great! I have kind of a curious question. On the average, how many footballs per year must you order? Also, what is the lifespan of a football in the NFL? Chris Valenti We order about 720 a year and although we haven’t used that many in one season, it is good to have them on hand. The life span depends a lot on the weather conditions that a ball has to suffer. Assuming a ball isn’t affected at all by moisture, they usually last about 4 weeks under normal game and practice use before they become slippery and the grip wears down. Brian O'Quinn; Thornton Do players have any unusual equipment preferences, such as items they consider to be lucky? Do you have to take this into account when you order equipment? Chris Valenti I can’t think of any examples of “lucky” pieces of equipment that guys have had in the past. Any extended use of something is the result of a player preferring broken in equipment for comfort purposes more than anything. If they do have an unusual piece of equipment, it is usually something that they have a personal attachment to, such as a t-shirt of their own which doesn’t affect our ordering at all. Doug Davies; St. Paul, Minn. Are team members allowed to pick their own brand of cleat and if so, is the team responsible for that expense or the individual? Chris Valenti Players are allowed to wear any type of cleat that they would like to. However, only two brands are allowed to show their logos on the field, those being Nike and Reebok. If a player chooses to wear another brand, all logos must be covered. If a player is lucky enough to get a shoe contract from one of the two companies I just mentioned, then there shoes are provided for them as part of the contract. For those players without contracts, the team provides them with the shoes they need to perform. Ryan Trent; La Habra, Calif. As a former high school and college football player I use to enjoy looking my best and making sure I have my accessories tight on game day. I love the way Champ goes into battle. Do you have a player that you think to yourself: “Man, that dude looks bad” when he heads into the game? If so, who? And why? Chris Valenti That is a tough one. I am obviously biased about how our uniform looks, but I think all of our players look “bad” more because of the player rather than the uniform. Ray; Grand Haven, Mich. I remember hearing that the fullback for the Lions goes through about 16 helmets or so a season. What would you say is the average of how many helmets a normal player goes through each season and who breaks the most on the Broncos roster? Chris Valenti That is a new one to hear for me. I have heard that the Lions fullback goes through a lot of facemasks, but not helmets. Our players use only one helmet a year and in my eight years I have only seen one broken helmet. Brian Kelley; Cocoa Beach, Fla. Will the Broncos be wearing their orange jerseys this year, and if so what are the chances of them wearing the old school helmet with them? Chris Valenti Actually, we won’t be wearing our orange jerseys this year, not the current version or the throwback. In years past, the NFL has allowed the four teams playing on Thanksgiving Day to wear the throwback uniforms which include the old school helmet, as we did last time we played in Dallas on Thanksgiving. But they changed their mind this year and all four teams are wearing their current uniforms. Michael Schwarz; Boynton Beach, Fla. What is the longest name you have had to have on a player's uniform and how did you get it on the jersey? Chris Valenti Since I have been here, the longest last name we have had to put on a jersey is Christopherson. The way we get it to fit is by reducing the font size on the nameplate and making all the letters just a little skinnier. Deshawn; Baltimore I heard Tatum Bell is wearing a black visor this year, but I heard it’s a fine too wear any visors unless its clear … Is that true? Chris Valenti It is true that a player who has not been cleared to wear a tinted visor will be fined if he wears one with tint. The process to get cleared for a tinted visor is very strict too and very few guys in the entire league actually get approved. As it stands right now, Tatum is still in a clear one too. Jake Gibbons; Gunnison In a May Q&A, Pat McPherson said that the modern safety can't be looked off as easily these days because they key on the quarterback's eyes. Is there a rule about covering those eyes with a visor like some of our running backs have worn in the past? Or, does that hinder the quarterbacks vision too much? Chris Valenti Any player who chooses to wear a clear visor can do so, but that wouldn’t help the quarterback at all. If a player chooses to wear a tinted visor, they must be approved by the NFL after providing a considerable amount of medical proof that they need one which our head trainer handles with his medical staff. Needless to say, that is why you don’t see too many guys, especially quarterbacks, with a tinted visor. Dave Holman; Marinette, Wis. As I played high school sports, some of the guys had suppositious things they did with their uniforms. Do any of the Broncos do these, and if so, who (does it) and what do they do? Chris Valenti The superstitions that guys have are more with the routine that they have on game day rather than the equipment they wear. Some guys have to get dressed at the same time, or have help from the same person, or do such small things as get air out in their helmet or get their eye-black put on at the exact right time but that is about the extent of the superstitions that we know about. T.S. West; Billings, Mont. Has there been a game situation involving equipment that has caused you a lot of stress, and if so, what was the situation? Chris Valenti With every game there is a certain amount of stress that comes with making sure every player and every coach has what they need to get through the game. The spike in stress comes when something gets misplaced when unpacking, or when a piece of equipment breaks during the course of a game. The last thing you want to happen is a guy misses too many plays because they have a broken chinstrap. Pedro L.H.; Canutillo, Texas What is the hardest part of preparing the equipment for away games? Chris Valenti Actually, since our practice facility isn’t located at our stadium, every game is like an away game for us. We have to pack the same amount of equipment and relocate it either way, and either way the hardest part is making sure nothing gets left behind. David Teel; Toronto What do you do with the used equipment? Do you donate it to youth programs in the community? Chris Valenti As far as the used gloves and shoes go, we do donate a sizeable amount at the end of every year to local high schools and colleges. Other than that, there isn’t much more to donate. The players get to keep their helmets and they use the same shoulder pads from year to year. Clint Armstrong; Loveland, Ohio Do players get brand new jerseys, pants, helmets, socks, etc. for each game or are these items washed, sewn, buffed, etc. to look like new again? If they are always new, what is done with the old uniforms/helmets? Also, does the NFL place equipment budgets on teams or is it up to each owner to spend what he/she wishes on equipment? Thanks! Chris Valenti Actually, the players use just one jersey and pair of pants for the entire season. They all have a back up jersey in case the primary one becomes unusable for some reason. We do wash the uniforms and hand scrub the grass stains that are a little difficult every week as well as clean, re-decal and use touch up paint on all the helmets. Our goal is to make everything look new every week even though it isn’t. As far as the budgets go, all teams are provided with a certain amount of goods from a number of different companies that have paid to be licensees. Though that is close to enough to outfit a team, there are things that are needed that aren’t included. If the owner chooses to go above and beyond those amounts, the NFL doesn’t specify how much they can spend. It is entirely up to them to provide as much equipment as they would like for their team. Chris Prusse; Lone Tree Mr. Valenti, How frequently are practice jerseys in need of replacement? Chris Valenti Since we don’t do a lot of live hitting during practice, our practice jerseys usually last between 2 and 3 years. We replace the individually as needed rather than updating an entire set at a time. Geronimo Mausehund; Berlin Which size (jersey) has been the biggest you have ever ordered, and for whom? Chris Valenti The biggest jersey that has been ordered that I know if is a size 56 for Chester McGlockton. To put that in perspective, that is 3 sizes bigger than the biggest size jersey for any of the defensive linemen on last year’s roster. Anthony Merlino; Grand Junction What soap works the best? Chris Valenti If you are referring to laundry soap, we actually use a combination of chemicals provided by a company called Ecolab rather than normal laundry detergent that you can buy at the store. We do, however, use Shout to scrub out the grass stains that don’t come out after the first washing. Matthew; Wilkinson What is the most frequent problem players have equipment wise during games? Chris Valenti The most frequent problems usually come as the weather gets worse. Sometimes players can’t decide what the best footing is for a particular field, so they experiment with different cleat lengths until they get the right one to keep from slipping. Even though we try to stay on top of the maintenance, sometimes there are problems with chinstrap buckles breaking during a game as well considering the speed of the collisions that our players endure. Bill; Brighton What are the most stressful and most enjoyable aspects of your job as equipment manager? Chris Valenti The most stressful aspect, in my opinion, would be making sure that guys can play without worrying about any part of their equipment at all. That is the last thing they should have to worry about on game day so we try to make sure everything is in order before they go out on the field. We try to make sure we know as much of a player’s individual needs as possible so when they get to their locker, everything is waiting for them. As far as the enjoyable aspects, there are too many to list. I think that is a result of being part of such a great organization that has been successful for so long. Our players and coaches are great to deal with, so coming in every day to work is easy and fun. Game days are definitely the highlight of every week though. That is what we work for every week, and when you get the chance to see our players compete, it can send chills through you. Dean Fortik; Spokane, Wash. Who designed the Broncos uniform back in 1997? It is still the best design in the NFL! Moving away from the traditional design to create something wonderfully unique was a great choice. What kind of process is involved in a major change like that? Chris Valenti Actually, I wasn’t here during the design of the new uniform, I started after that was done. I do know that the design process was a team effort between our owner and Nike. Unfortunately I can’t tell you what all was involved, but I know it was a lengthy process. Alex Kinstner; Chicago What is the difference between the Revolution helmets and the standard helmet and is there a new design in the making? Chris Valenti The biggest difference is in the protection provided on the side of a helmet. Rather than having a standard horseshoe shape jaw pad, the Revolution helmet has what is called a Z-Pad which protects the entire temple and jaw area. As far as a new design in the making, helmet manufacturers are very quiet when they have something new in the making so I’m sure there is work going on to improve head protection, but I can’t tell you what it might be. Blake; Altoona, Penn. How did you get into this line of work? Chris Valenti I actually did it in college at CU and got into it because my brother was an equipment manager there before me. Being both a fan and someone who played in high school, it was a way to be able to be a part of the game even though I knew I would never play at a level past high school. Mauro Gonzalez; Hays, Kan. Last month there was big hype about what number Jerry Rice would wear. I though since he could not have 80, why not 08? Is this possible or is that number generally reserved for quarterbacks? Chris Valenti Actually, receivers are only allowed to wear numbers in the teens and eighties according to league rules. The 8 is still considered a single digit even with the 0 in front of it, and those numbers can only be worn by kickers and quarterbacks. Michael Strunk; Sinking Spring, Penn. Hi, first off, I am a big time Broncos fan. These game used helmets that I see on Ebay, do you think they are truly game used or not? I see a lot of helmets but not a lot of Broncos. How or what would be the best way to tell a real game use helmet and how do these helmets become available to people? Do any of the Broncos helmets ever become available or do you keep reconditioning the helmet? Please reply, since there are times that Broncos helmet are on Ebay and I sit there and think: “man should I or not?” Chris Valenti Actually, I watch eBay very closely for those type of things and inform people when they are trying to sell a fraudulent item, not just helmets, but gloves, shoes, and jerseys as well. I wish there was a way to tell you how to spot a fake, but the details are specific and can change from year to year depending on who they are claiming they have. The helmets are actually given to each of the players at the end of every season so if it is being sold, it would have been obtained from the player himself. John Vair; Seattle Hi Chris, Could you discuss what you do during the week before a Bronco away game? How much equipment do you bring for each player and how do you get it to the other team's stadium? Does the NFL impose deadlines or restrictions that you have to meet? Chris Valenti Each week is pretty much the same whether it is a home game or an away game. We have to move all of the same equipment either way since we don’t work or practice at the stadium. Once we get back to our facility after a game and get all of the game laundry out of the way, we repack all of our trunks early in the week before practices start again. Throughout the week we try to maintain all of the hardware on the helmets and on Thursdays we re-decal and clean all of the helmets to make sure they look good for the upcoming game. On Fridays we load a truck with all of our extra trunks and hampers that is all back up equipment to have on hand for a game. In all, with the trainers and video departments included, we take about 12,000 pounds of extra equipment. The NFL does not impose deadlines or restrictions when it comes to the amount of equipment brought, but due to space constraints depending on what size airplane we travel with, we try to be as efficient as possible and not take too much. Nick Haegele; Kalispell, Mont. How many times do the guys get new equipment or change theirs, and does the team get all new equipment every year? Chris Valenti As far as protective equipment goes (helmet and shoulder pads), the players get a new helmet every year but they wear their shoulder pads for as long as they can throughout their career. The players do get new jerseys every year, and the team fills in every year with the equipment that was used to its limits the previous year. Since the styles of outerwear for the coaches changes every year, we do get new shirt and jackets and such every year for them. Chris Sutphin; Brilliant, Ohio What is the strangest request from a player that you can recall? Chris Valenti It isn’t so much what the request was for, but what the player did with what we provided. When Ed McCaffrey asked for scissors, he had a grand plan with them. Ed would cut any additional material in his uniform that he could find out so that it made his uniform lighter. He went as far as to cut the mesh out of his jersey from behind the numbers and the waistband of his jockstrap in half to reduce the weight. Joe Wesley; South Jordan, Ala. How many footballs do you order every week? How many do you order every season? Chris Valenti For every home game, we have to supply 24 footballs and the league provides an additional 12 for the kicking game so there are a total of 36 footballs for each game. Miles; Hilo, Hawaii I have read about how Ed McCaffrey use to cut all the extra jersey that was not needed and used pads that were very small. How many of the players on the team have requests like this? Chris Valenti There has never been a player who has done what Ed McCaffrey used to do. He was definitely in a league of his own when it came to quirky equipment needs. Andrew Gowins; Cincinnati Who has the largest shoe size you have had to order and who has the smallest? Chris Valenti This year we have a few players that wear size 16’s (Courtney Brown, George Foster, P.J. Alexander) and that is the largest size we have ever issued since I have been here. We do have up to size 19 in the equipment room just in case somebody ever needs them. The smallest size is currently a 10 worn by Domonique Foxworth and Curome Cox, but again we stock all the way down to 8 ½, just in case. Kurt; Chico, Calif. Do the players choose which shoes they're going to wear in a game or do you order them all and have generic shoes? Also, which athletic company sponsors you guys? During the regular season, the majority of our players have contracts with either Nike or Reebok so they wear whatever shoe that they have a contract with. We have to be cognizant of that too so the remainder of the shoes we fall in line with what the players need. They can select from whatever styles those companies provide so that they have the traction they need depending on the playing surface and the weather conditions. As far as the team goes, Reebok is the official uniform and clothing supplier for the entire league as well as footwear for the staff.

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07-01-2005, 08:01 AM	#3
scorpio Cubicle Pimp Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,498	Oh gee, the equipment manager. Who are they going to interview next, the water boy?

07-01-2005, 08:28 AM	#5
Billy Clyde Puckett Billy=Semi Tough Big Guy Looking down on KC, SD and Oakland Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: between 5,000 and 10,000 feet elevation Posts: 12,665 Adopt-a-Bronco: John Elway	No one asked what the largest jock size was.

07-01-2005, 08:51 AM	#6
Jason in LA Gimmie that rep fool! Speaking of Butts & Boob Mojo Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: LA Posts: 12,253	First it was the gardner, now this guy. I know it's the offseason, but things can't be that slow that the Broncos own website is giving us this crap. I read half way through the interview with the gardner before I realized I had much better things to do. I didn't even read one answer from this guy. How about an interview with C Brown? I want to know what his status is. I'd also like to hear from Pryce to see where he's at.

07-01-2005, 08:57 AM	#7
Traveler Traveling Man! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,411 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ryan Clady	Mini-camp & Training-camp can't get here fast enough!

07-01-2005, 09:04 AM	#8
RukdaFaidas Seasoned Veteran Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 312	I have a couple questions: Do you order Crisco by the case or individually? What kind of bonus can an equipment manager make by "accidentally" taking home jerseys on the road?

07-01-2005, 12:06 PM	#11
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,074 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	Wel...they answered my question. Of course it was for the equipment manager, but I imagine so few wrote in they were able to get to all of them.

07-01-2005, 12:09 PM	#12
Rohirrim Partisan Human Cannonball Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Twixt Hell & Highwater Posts: 48,852	You can always tell when you've reached the lowest point in the offseason: They interview the equipment guy.

07-01-2005, 12:27 PM	#15
Rohirrim Partisan Human Cannonball Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Twixt Hell & Highwater Posts: 48,852	Only the Waffle would have any interest in those dimensions.

07-01-2005, 12:44 PM	#18
Billy Clyde Puckett Billy=Semi Tough Big Guy Looking down on KC, SD and Oakland Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: between 5,000 and 10,000 feet elevation Posts: 12,665 Adopt-a-Bronco: John Elway	I can tell it is Friday before a holiday weekend. Everyone is in a good mood joking around. Let's all have a toast to the Mane this weekend.